Folding ax.



E. KLEPSCH.

FOLDING AX.

APPLICATION FILED APR.30, 1915.

Patented Mar. 27s 1917.

2 SHEETS--SHEET l.

E. KLEPSCH.

FOLDING AX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30| I915.

wm Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i Ewimesch I @Ho/Lum,

ERNST KLEPSCH, 0F SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING AX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 30, 1915. Serial No. 25,023.

iently carried.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of thecharacter described in which -the head of the tool will be held verysecurely when in position for operation, precluding all possibility ofthe tool doubling upon the handle when a blow is struck.

,A further object ofthe invention is to produce a tool of the characterdescribedv in -which when blows are struck the impact of the same willnot be received altogether by the rivet or member whereby the head andthe handle of the tool are connected together, but will be distributedover an extended surface fitted to receive the same.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the in- -vention is better understood, the same consists inthe improved construction and novel i arrangement and combination ofparts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed`out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theclaim may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,-

Figure 1 is a side view ofthe improved ax showing the same-folded fortransportation.

yFig. 2 is a side view, showing the ax eX- tended for use.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 44 in Fig. 2'.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5--5 in Fig.4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 1.

ratentea nar. er, reir.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectionalview taken on the line 7 -7 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the blade detached.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

rllhe blade 15 of the improved ax is formed of 'steel and it has a shank16 which is formed integral therewith, said shank being provided with anaperture 17 for the passage of a pivot member, and said shank havingalso at the end thereof a tapering recess 18, the side walls of whichconverge in the direction -of the head or blade 15, as clearly seen inFig. 8.

rl`he handle of the improved implement is composed of'side members 19,the forward ends of which are provided with recesses 20 'loA in theiropposed faces for the reception of the shank 16, the same being mountedon a pivot member B that extends through the cheeks or side members ofthe handle and through the aperture 17 of the shank. Said pivot member Bhas been shown as including a sleeve 21 and screws 22, 23 threaded intoopposite ends thereof, one of said screws having a head which iscountersunk in one 'of the cheeks of the handle, thus providing aconstruction which will enable the parts to be tightened to compensatefor wear.

The cheeks or side members 19 of the handle are provided in theiropposed faces with recesses 24 to accommodate a slide 25 and anactuating spring 26 for the same, said slide having a terminal wedge 27adapted to engage the recess 18 of the shank 17. The said shank is alsoprovided with an oifset or shoulder 28 having a notch 29 adapted to beengaged by the point or narrow end of the wedge 27 when the tool isfolded, thereby serving to retain the same in a folded condition. rlheslide 25 projects beyond the heel end of the handle, and is providedwith a thumb piece or button 30, whereby it may be convenientlymanipulated or retracted against the tension of the actuating spring.

rlhe rearward end of the handle is provided with a laterally extendingheel portion 31, and the inner opposed faces of the side members 19forming said heel portion are recessed for the reception of guard plates32 of leather, indurated fiber or other suitable material, the edges ofsaid guard plate being beveled, as seen at 33, for the purpose ofreceiving between them the edge of the blade or head 15 of the ax whenfolded, thus serving to guard and protect the edge.

The side members 19 of the handle are to be secured together by means ofscrews,bolts or like fastenings in such a manner as to form a strong andcompact structure. In order to lessen the weight of the device, saidside members may be provided with slots or openings, and the weight ofthe slide 25 may in'like manner be reduced. The outer faces of the sidemembers 19 may be protected by trimming plates 34 of wood, fiber,celluloid or other appropriate material, so as to present a neat andattractive appearance.

When the improved ax is folded, as seen in Fig. 1, 'the edgeof the bladewill be absolutely protected, and accidental opening of the blade ispositively prevented by engagement of the wedge portion 27 of the slide25 with the notch 29 in the shoulder 28 formed on the shank of theblade. By retracting the slide by means of the button 30 the wedge willbe disen aged from the notch 29, thus permitting the lade carrying shankto be moved to the open position shown in Fig. 2, the rear end portionof the shank being beveled,.as seen at 35, so as to pass readily intoengagement with the wedge 27 which presently will engage the recess 18.The spring actuated wedge will forcibly engage the side walls of therecess 18, and the blade carrying shank will thus be held with perfectsecurity against rocking or other movement. The force of every blowstruck with the ax will be taken up not only by the pivot member, but toa greater extent by the wedge engaging the recess 18, thus providing anextremely strong and durable construction, whereby loosening of theparts will be rendered practically impossible, any wear resulting fromuse being taken up by the Wedge formation of the interengaging parts,said partsbeing maintained in engaged relation by the action of thespring 26. The improved device is capable of being commercially producedat a moderate cost, and it has proven to be thoroughly useful for thepurposes for which it is provided. Particular attention is directed tothe fact that when the device is in use, the projecting heel portion ofthe handle will afford a firm grip for the operator, and will preventthe handle from sliding from the hand when heavy blows are struck.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

In a device of the character described, a handle, a slide in saidhandle, a terminal wedge member mounted in said slide, a blade carryingshank pivoted to said handle and having a recess with divergent wallsadapted to be engaged by said wedge member, and means for maintainingsaid Wedge member in tight engagement with said recess.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNST KLEPSCH.

Witnesses:

SIMON Y. Konrizn, MABEL L. BoHNHoFF.

